The Season of Advent

DUCCIO di Buoninsegna

The Nativity between Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel
1308-11

Today is the commencement of Advent, the beginning of the church year, and the season of Christian expectation and preparation. During Advent, God's people express their longing for the coming of Messiah, the King promised by God, who will bring righteousness and peace to all the earth.

• Advent prepares us to celebrate the first coming of Jesus at Christmas, the Word made flesh, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem.
  

• Advent also prepares us to welcome Jesus at his second coming, known as the parousia (or appearing) of the King, when the dead will be raised and all creation made new forever (1Thessalonians 4.13-17).

During this Advent season, I will be meditating on various psalms. Each day's psalm is taken from the evening vespers of Phyllis Tickle's The Divine Hours prayer guide.